China and Japan began to feud against the background of statements about Taiwan. What the media is writing

Sharp tensions have arisen in relations between Beijing and Tokyo after the new Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, allowed a military response in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China has advised its tourists not to travel to Japan and has restricted seafood exports. What the media write about the quarrel between the two largest Asian economies is in the Izvestia digest.

CNN: China closes seafood market to Japan over Taiwan dispute

China has warned that there is "no market" for Japanese seafood exports, which has become another veiled threat from Beijing amid its escalating diplomatic spat with Tokyo over the Japanese leader's recent comments on Taiwan's protection. The two neighbors became embroiled in a rapidly escalating dispute after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, answering a question in parliament, said that China's attack on Taiwan would be considered a "situation threatening Japan's existence" and thus could provoke a military response from Tokyo.

Earlier this year, China only partially resumed seafood imports from Japan after it imposed a ban on them in August 2023 in response to Tokyo's decision to begin dumping treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The threat of a new ban arose after Beijing advised its citizens last week to refrain from traveling to Japan. Although this step is not mandatory, it has great symbolic significance: between January and September of this year, about 7.5 million travelers from China visited Japan, which is the highest figure among all countries and regions.

Reuters: "long winter" in Japan-China relations

Takaichi's unexpected remark, which provoked Japan's largest conflict with China in many years, should not have meant a new tough stance. However, after openly stating how Japan might react to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, it will find it difficult to resolve a dispute that could hit the economy. China has expressed its displeasure with moves such as the boycott of travel, the cessation of seafood imports, and the cancellation of meetings and cultural events.

So far, Japanese leaders have avoided mentioning Taiwan in public discussions of such scenarios, following a strategic ambiguity also held by Tokyo's main security ally, the United States. Now, during Takaichi's premiership, relations between Asia's two leading economies may find themselves in a "long winter." Beijing has already ruled out the possibility of holding a key meeting between Takaichi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in South Africa. Some analysts compare this split to Tokyo's decision to nationalize the disputed islands in 2012, which sparked massive anti-Japanese protests across China. During this conflict, the top officials did not meet for two and a half years.

Fire on your own: US duties have brought down the economies of the West

Japan, the UK and Germany have lost more from tariffs than developing countries.

Taipei Times: Taiwan's president expressed support for Takaichi and ate sushi

Taiwanese President William Lai showed his support for Japan and hosted a Japanese-made sushi dinner after China made it clear that it would ban all seafood imports from the country due to the escalating dispute over Taiwan. Tensions between the two countries escalated after Takaichi said China's attack on Taiwan, threatening Japan's existence, could provoke a military response.

In recent years, Taiwan has been subject to similar bans from China on food exports, including Taiwanese pineapples and fish. In Taipei, they call it part of a pressure campaign from Beijing.

The Washington Post: China punishes Japan's new leader

Since Saturday, Chinese tourists have canceled more than half a million flights to Japan. Chinese students were advised to be more careful. Two Japanese films have been withdrawn from distribution in China. Ships patrol the disputed waters. Government experts warn that the whole of Japan could turn into a "battlefield." And now China has suspended the import of Japanese seafood.

The tension underscores the explosive nature of relations between Japan and China, especially against the background of Takaichi's promises to strengthen Japan's military capabilities, including speeding up the deadlines for increasing defense spending set by Tokyo, with the active support of the United States. Japan is due to vote on its largest-ever defense budget next month, and Takaichi is committed to setting a spending target of 2% of GDP, which will accelerate recent sharp growth.

They have a premiere: will Takaichi change relations between Russia and Japan

The elected head of government wants to become the new Thatcher and already intends to revise the pacifist article of the constitution.

NBC News: China cancels tourist trips to Japan

Following government guidance, several major Chinese airlines have begun offering free refunds or rerouting for eligible tickets for flights to and from Japan. Some travel companies are reporting disruptions and losses amid tensions between China and Japan. Tokyo-based tour operator East Japan International Travel Agency, which offers individual services to Chinese tourists, reported that about 70% of its group tours were canceled, and the number of new requests also dropped by about 90%.

The premieres of at least two Japanese films will be postponed in mainland China. The Chinese distributors said they had made "cautious" changes in response to viewers' "widespread and intense dissatisfaction" with Takaichi's remarks.